Grain size modification in the magnetocaloric and non-magnetocaloric transitions in La0.5Ca0.5MnO3 probed by direct and indirect methods

TL;DR

This study investigates how grain size affects the magnetic and magnetocaloric properties of La0.5Ca0.5MnO3, revealing the impact of microstructure on phase behavior and measurement methods.

Contribution

It provides new insights into the role of grain size in phase separation and magnetocaloric effects in La0.5Ca0.5MnO3, comparing direct and indirect measurement techniques.

Findings

Grain size influences the formation of long-range ordered phases.

Differences between direct and indirect methods are linked to domain wall behavior.

Metastable states emerge as grain size decreases.

Abstract

The influence of the grain size in the magnetic properties of phase separated manganites is an important issue evidenced more than a decade ago. The formation of long range ordered phases is suppressed as the grain size decreases giving place to a metastable state instead of the ground state. In this work we present a study of the magnetocaloric effect in the prototypical manganite La0.5Ca0.5MnO3 as function of the grain size. The differences obtained using direct and indirect methods are discussed in the framework of domain walls in the ferromagnetic phase of the system.